The worldly philosophical concepts enshrined in Trinitarianism, and even in Oneness to some extent, like "essence," "homoousios," and "being" are ephemeral—they belong to a particular historical context and intellectual tradition that is ultimately temporary. The danger of adopting such categories is that they can distract from the eternal nature of the gospel as revealed in Scripture.
God’s goal is not to preserve Stoicism, Platonism, or any worldly philosophy, but to preserve the testimony of Scripture—which has eternal relevance. Philosophical categories are fleeting and change over time, and once they become disconnected from the biblical text, they risk losing their meaning and relevance, especially in a church setting where people may no longer understand these concepts.
Paul emphasizes this very concern in his letters, especially in places like 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, where he declares:
“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (ESV)
Paul’s point is that the gospel is not about philosophical speculation or the adoption of worldly wisdom, but about Christ and the message of salvation that God has revealed through Scripture. In this sense, Scripture itself should be the focus, rather than philosophical systems that can obscure or distort the message.
So, in later theological formulations, particularly the use of terms like homoousios, these philosophical categories not only stray from the simple, direct message of Scripture but also risk forcing the Church to preserve what is ultimately worldly—ideas that are no longer intelligible or meaningful to the contemporary believer.
For the Church to remain faithful to its mission, it needs to return to the simplicity of the apostolic witness, without the baggage of later philosophical developments. We need to effectively engage with Scripture in a way that preserves its clarity, while also guarding against these philosophical influences.
Creeds including phrases like “one being” force us to preserve Platonism. God wants us to preserve scripture, not worldly philosophy. Paul emphasises this. John warns of “running ahead”, leaving behind Christ’s teachings (2 John 9). Peter warned against straying from the simplicity of Christ. We ought to try to stay in fellowship with the Father and the Son, if we want to keep our hope of resurrection by Jesus to immortality.
Stephen D Green with AI, March 2025
